Tape reel container



Sept. 30, 1969 J. o. NORMAN, JR 3,469,631

TPE REEL CONTAINER Filed NGV. 2, 196'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR BYQ/WMWM ATTORNEYS J. D. NORMAN, JR

TAPE REEL CONTAINER 2 She ets-Sheet 2 /zz y INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q 3,469,681 TAPE REEL CONTAINER John D. Norman, Jr., Auburn, Ala., assiguor to Perfection Plastics, Inc., Opelika, Ala., a corporation of vAlabama Filed Nov. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 680,170 Int. Cl. B65d 75/02, 85/67 U.S. Cl. 206-52 14 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A pair of plastic body portions are interconnected by unique locking mechanism including a plurality of separate lock members which are cammed inwardly and outwardly by interengagement with rotatable actuating means having cam portions thereon. The lock members are supported by one of the body portions and engage an annular lip portion on the other of the body portions, the cam portions having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon which are interengageable and cooperate with portions of the lock members for holding them in the desired operative positions.

Cross-references to related applications The present application is related to copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 618,495, led Feb. 24, 1967 and is also related to U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 680,238, led Nov. 2, 1967.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a tape reel container for receiving and holding therein a conventional tape reel and the like, and includes unique means for locking the two body portions in clamping engagement with one another.

Prior art tape reel containers have generally presented a problem in that the locking mechanism thereof has a tendency to open too easily when in lock position. Additionally, such arrangements have employed metal-toplastic contact surfaces for obtaining closure pressure, and this type of arrangement can cause contamination due to wearing action.

United States Patent No. 2,859,868 discloses a tape reel package for containing a tape reel, this arrangement employing a plurality of latch fingers having inclined upper surfaces which provide a limited degree of locking action. In order to interengage and lock the two body portions of this type of arrangement, the latch ngers thereon must be properly aligned with corresponding clearance openings in the other body portion thereby necessitating careful observation of the alignment of the two body portions prior to assembly.

Summary of the invention The present invention employs a unique locking arrangement wherein a plurality of separate lock members are mounted for sliding and tilting movement with respect to the associated components so that when the lock members move into lock position, a very strong and positive locking action is obtained. Furthermore, when the 3,469,681 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 lock members are in the lock position, they are retained in such lock position and will not be accidentally released until the actuating means of the apparatus is manually operated.

The components of the present invention may all be constructed of a suitable plastic material thereby eliminating any metal-to-plastic contact in the apparatus.

A further important advantage of the present invention is the fact that the lock members are interengageable with an annular lip portion formed on one of the body portions whereby the first and second body portions can be readily lockingly clamped to one another in any relative position of the two body portions. This of course eliminates the necessity of aligning the two body portions when locking them to one another.

The present invention also is an improvement over the construction shown in copending application Ser. No. 618,495, led Feb. 24, 1967, in that the actuating means of the present invention as well as the locking members are of considerably simpler construction, and in particular the actuating means of the present invention is much simpler in that it requires only three integral cam portions extending therefrom for accomplishing the locking and unlocking function in cooperation with the individual lock members. Additionally, a very simple positive locking action of the lock members is obtained in the present invention in contrast to the rather complicated mode of movement of the lock members in said copending patent application.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tape reel container which provides a positive clamping action and which does not accidentally release or open too easily; which further may be formed substantially entirely of a plastic material or the like; and wherein the two body portions of the container may be readily locked together at any relative position with respect to one another.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a top View of a tape reel container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view partly broken away taken substantially along line 2 2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a View looking up at the bottom of the actuating means of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view looking down on the body portion which slidably supports the lock members, land illustrates the lock members in unlocked position with the actuating means removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the components in the locked position as in FIGS. 1 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 6 6 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is an enlaged sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen in FIG. 2, the container includes a body means comprising la first body portion indicated generally by reference numeral 20 and a second body portion indicated generally by reference numeral 22. These body portions as well as the remaining components of the container according to the present invention are preferably all formed of a suitable plastic material such as acrylanitrile or the like. It is apparent that various other plastic substances may be selected for use in the present invention, and the material used may be varied as desired.

The first body portion 20 includes a side wall 24 having an outer flange 26 extending substantially normally thereto, this flange being generally annular in configuration. A further flange 28 is disposed outwardly of the outer flange 26 and also extends substantially normally from the side wall 24 but extends from wall 24 a much smaller distance than the outer flange 26. A space is defined between flanges 26 and 28 for receiving a suitable sealing gasket 30 of generally circular cross sectional configuration, this gasket being formed of a resilient material such yas plastic which is adapted to be deformed when pressure is applied thereto as hereinafter discussed.

An inner flange 34 extends inwardly from the inner portion of side wall 24 and includes an inturned portion defining an annular lip portion 36 which is adapted to cooperate with the lock means hereinafter described for clamping the two body portions to one another. A gasket 38 is disposed in surrounding relationship to the outer surface of flange 34 and is adapted to fit in snug engagement therewith.

The first body portion 20 defines a central hole formed through the side wall 24 thereof, this hole being closed by a cover plate indicated generally by reference numeral 40, the cover plate being of generally disc-like configuration with the peripheral edge 42 thereof disposed in a recess portion provided adjacent the inner flange 34. An annular ange 44 extends from cover plate 40 and is fitted within the inner ange 34 and is suitably secured therein as by ultrasonic welding, spin welding or by bonding it in place with a suitable bonding material such as glue or the like. In this manner, the cover plate serves to close off the hole formed through the body portion 20.

Body means 22 includes a side wall 50 having an outer flange 52 extending substantially normally thereto and being of generally annular configuration. Flange 52 is adapted to fit about the outer flange 26 of body portion 20 so that these flanges nest within one another as shown, the outer edge portion of flange 52 being adapted to engage the sealing gasket 30 previously described to provide an effective fluid-tight seal therewith when the two -body portions are locked in clamping relationship to one another.

Body portion 22 includes an inner flange comprising an integral inwardly extending portion 54 of generally frusto-conical configuration having la gasket 55 disposed in surrounding relationship thereto and in snug engagement with the outer surface thereof, portion 54 joining with an annular portion 56 disposed substantially parallel with side wall 50 and defining an annular shoulder 58 upon which the actuating means hereinafter described is adapted to rest.

Portion 56 of the inner liange joins with a portion 60 of generally frusto-conical configuration which in turn joins with an inner wall 62 disposed substantially parallel with side wall 50. This inner wall includes an integral generally cylindrical projection 64 joining with a radially inwardly extending annular portion 66 having a central hole 68 of generally circular cross sectional configuration formed therethrough for a purpose hereinafter described.

lReferring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of these views illustrates a top view of body portion 22 with the actuating means associated therewith removed. FIGURE 4 illustrates the apparatus in the unlocked position, while FIG.

5 illustrates the apparatus in the locked position. As seen 75 .4 in these figures, the inner wall `62 of the inner flange of body portion 22 includes a first pair of spaced substantially parallel integral guide walls 70 and 72. A further pair of spaced parallel integral guide walls 74 and 76 are provided, and a further pair of similar guide walls 78 and 80 are provided. It will be noted that each pair of guide walls is spaced substantially 120 away from the adjacent pairs of side walls to define equal symmetrical spacing of the pairs of guide walls.

The locking means includes three separate lock members indicated generally by reference numerals 84, 86 and 88 which are supported by the inner wall 62 of the body portion 22 for relative sliding movement with respect thereto, the lock members being adapted to slide inwardly 'and outwardly generally radially with respect to the body portion 22, this radial inward and outward movement of the lock members being guided by the associated guide walls hereinbefore described.

The individual lock members are adapted to slide radially outwardly through holes 90, 92 and 94 provided through the portion 60 of the inner flange hereinbefore described.

IReferring now particularly to FIG. 6, the constructional details of lock member 84 may be seen, it being understood that the other lock members 86 and 88 are of substantially identical construction. Lock member 84 comprises a one-piece construction and is formed of a suitable plastic material such as Teflon for example. The lock member includes a pair of integral upstanding lugs and 102 which are adapted to receive therebetween the cam portions formed on the actuating means hereinafter described. An integral stop rib 104 extends downwardly from the undersurface 106 of the lock member, this stop rib 104 being adapted to engage a stop wall 110 formed integral with the inner flange 'adjacent to the hole 90. It should be understood that similar stop walls are provided adjacent the holes 92 and 94 for limiting outward movement of the associated lock members by engagement with the stop ribs thereof.

Lock member 84 includes an outer end portion 112 having Aa tapered upper surface 114. This tapered upper surface is adapted to engage the inner edge of annular lip 36 formed on body portion 20, and due to the slope of this tapered surface 114, outward movement of the lock members with respect to the body portion 20 will cause body portion 20 to be moved into locked engagement toward body portion 22 upon camming interengagement of the tapered surface 114 of the lock member with the annular lip of body portion 20. Since three of these lock members interengage the annular lip portion 36 of body portion 20 substantially simultaneously, the two body portions will be positively urged into locking engagement with one another.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuating means of the present invention includes la generally frusto-conical side wall portion which fits snugly within the frusto-conical side wall portion 54 of the inner flange formed on body portion 50, the lower edge of side wall 120 resting upon portion 56 of the inner flange to support the actuating means in position. The side wall portion 120 of the actuating means joins with a bottom wall portion 122 having a hole 124 formed centrally therewithin as seen in FIG. 3, this hole being of generally square cross sectional configuration.

I'he actuating means is retained in operative position with respect to the body portion 22 and yet is permitted to rotate with respect thereto by an attaching means indicated generally by reference numeral 130. This attachment means includes an enlarged generally circular head 132 having a pair of resilient leg portions 134 and 136 extending therefrom. As seen in FIG. 2, the leg portions V134 'and 136 extend through holes 68 and 124 and snap into the operative position shown wherein shoulder portions 134 and 136' formed on the enlarged upper ends of the attaching means 134 and `136 respectively as seen in this view engage the upwardly facing surface of the bottom wall 122 of the actuating means for holding the components in the assembled position illustrated. It is app-arent that once the attaching means has been snapped into the operative position illustrated, lthe actuating means will be retained in position relative to the body portion 22, and yet may rotate with respect thereto.

A handle portion is provided in the actuating means, the handle portion being indicated generally by reference numeral 140 and including a pair of spaced walls 142 and 144 which extend between generally diametrically opposite sides of the inner surface of the side wall portion 120 of the actuating means, these side walls 142 and 144 extending upwardly as seen in FIG. 2 from the bottom wall 122. The handle portion includes a cover member `146 which extends in spanning relationship between the upper edge of walls 142 and 144, member 146 being suitably retained in the operative relationship illustrated as by being secured in place by suitable yadhesive substance or the like.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a stop lug 150 is formed integral with the inner flange of body portion 22 and extends upwardly from the portion 56 thereof, this stop lug extending in a generally radial direction. This stop lug cooperates with -a pair of stop surfaces formed integrally on the actuating means as hereinafter described.

Visual indicator means for indicating whether the apparatus is in the locked or unlocked position is provided, this visual indicator means including a pair of spaced indicating portions 152 and 154 which may comprise elongated strips of colored paper or the like suitably secured in position as by means of adhesive means, suitable colors being selected for this purpose. As seen in FIG. l, this indicator means includes a light refracting and transmitting means 156 in the form of a piece of clear plastic or the like which is adapted to be positioned over the colored indicating portions so that the color is readily visible at the upper surface of member 156. The details of construction of this visual indicator means are disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 680,23 8, filed Nov. 2, 1967.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the undersurface of the actuating means is illustrated, and as seen in this figure, a wall portion 160 is formed integral with the bottom wall 122 of the actuating means and extends peripherally therearound and terminates in two generally radially extending walls 162 and 164 which dene stop surfaces 162 and 164 which are adapted to engage opposite sides of the stop lug 150 previously described upon relative rotation of the actuating means with respect to the body portion 22 to limit the relative rotation between the actuating means and its associated body portion.

As seen in FIG. 3, three spaced integral cam portions 170, 172 and 174 extend from the bottom wall 122 of the actuating means, these cam portions defining radially outwardly facing cam surfaces 176, 178 and 180 respectively. These three cam surfaces slope so as to define points of increasing radius from the center from ends 182, 184 and 186 of the cam surfaces to the opposite ends 188, 190 and 192 respectively.

The cam portions 170, 172 and 174 are received between the upstanding lugs of the lock members 84, 86 and 88 respectively, and it is apparent that upon relative rotation of the actuating means and the integral cam portions thereof with respect to the lock members, the lock members will be cammed either inwardly or outwardly depending upon the direction of relative rotation.

Projections 76', 178 and 180 extend radially outwardly from the outwardly facing cam surfaces 176, 178 and 180 respectively. Upon movement of actuating means so as to urge the lock members into locking position, these projections will engage the upstanding lugs on the respective lock members so as to give them the final radial outward movement toward locked position as shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be noted that when the apparatus is in the final locked position, the projection 176' has moved beyond the midpoint of the lug 102 of lock member 84. The inwardly facing surface of lug 102 tapers toward the center of the device so as to define a medial portion which is radially inward of the remaining portions of the lug. Accordingly, in the position shown in FIG. 5, the projection 176 has moved past this medial portion thereby allowing the lock member to move slightly radially inwardly due to the camming effect on the outer tapered upper surface 114 thereon under the influence of pressure applied by the inner edge of the annular lip portion 36 on body portion 20 tending to move all of the lock members radially inwardly.

As seen in FIG. 5, each of the projections is adapted to move beyond the medial portion of the lug on the associated lock member- This intercooperation betweenvthe projections and the lugs on the lock members tends to retain the actuating means in locked position since in order to move the actuating means to unlocked position, the lock members must first be forced radially outwardly. Accordingly, the resistance to movement of the actuating means in the unlocking direction makes it virtually impossible for the apparatus to be accidentally moved into unlocked position from the locked position without deliberate manual effort being applied thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the cam portion defines a downwardly facing surface 200 which faces toward the associated lock member 484 during operation of the apparatus, surface 200 including a sloping surface 202 which slopes away from the actuating means and terminates in a lock surface 204 which engages the upwardly facing surface of the associated lock member 84. It should be understood that the remaining cam portions have corresponding sloping surfaces and lock surfaces for engagement with the associated lock members.

It is apparent that when moving from the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 4to the locked position as shown in FIG. 5, the actuating means is rotated in a clockwise direction whereupon the outwardly facing cam surfaces of the various cam portions will engage the integral upstanding lugs formed on the lock members so as to urge the lock members radially outwardly into locking position, the projections on the cam surfaces moving the lock members into final operating position.

Referring to FIG. 6, an inner annular shoulder 210 is formed integral with the inner Wall 62 of the inner ange of body portion 22, this annular shoulder extending completely around the projection 64. An annular sloping surface 212 is formed adjacent to the shoulder 210. When the lock members are in the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 6, the radially inner ends of the lock members rest upon annular shoulder 210. When the lock members are subsequently cammed outwardly into locked position, the inner edges of the lock members ride down along the sloping surface 212 so that the lock members are moved into the tilted phantom line position shown in FIG. 6 as they are cammed outwardly until the .lock members reach their limit of outward movement, the lock members being urged into this tilted position by the sloping surface 202 and held in such position by the locksurface 204 of cam portion 170 for example as described in connection with FIG. 7.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel tape reel container which provides a positive clamping action when in the lock position and which will not open too easily. The apparatus is formed completely of plastic components, and the lock means of the apparatus can be engaged in any relative position of the two body portions.

I claim:

1. A tape reel container comprising a first body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner flange extending from said side wall and terminating in an inwardly extendnig annular lip portion, a second body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner fiange extending from said second body portion, lock means for locking said first and second body portions in operative relationship with respect to one another, actuating means, said lock means being supported on said inner ange between the inner flange of said second -body portion and said actuating means and radially movable relative thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof, the inner surface of said inner flange having parallel radially extending guide walls, said locking means including a lock member positioned within said guide walls and having its outer end tapered to provide a camming surface, said actuating means including cam portions engaging said lock member for moving the lock member outwardly into camming engagement with said lip portion in locking position and inwardly out of engagement with said lip portion to release position upon relative rotation of said actuating means with respect to said second body portion.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock means include a plurality of separate lock members, said inner flange of the second body portion having holes formed therethrough for receiving said lock members and permitting said lock members to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said last-mentioned inner fiange.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including cooperating stop means formed on the inner ange of said second body portion and each of said lock members for limiting outward movement of said lock members with respect to said last-mentioned inner flange.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including stop means on the inner flange of said second body portion interengageable with portions of said actuating means for limiting movement of said actuating means in opposite directions with respect to the inner iiange of said second body portion.

5. A tape reel container comprising a first body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner flange extending from said side wall and defining an annular lip portion, a second body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom said second body portion, lock means for locking said first and second body portions in operative relationship with respect to one another, actuating means, said lock means being supported between the inner ange of said second body portion and said actuating means and radially movable relative thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof, said actuating means including cam portions engaging said lock means for moving the lock means outwardly to engage said lip portion in locking position and inwardly out of engagement with said lip portion to release position upon relative rotation of said actuating means with respect to said second body portion, a stop wall formed on the inner flange of the second body portion adjacent each of said holes therein, each of said lock members having a stop rib for-med thereon for interengagement with one of said walls.

6. A tape reel container comprising a first body portion including a side wall having an outer ange extending therefrom, an inner ange extending from said side wall and defining an annular lip portion, a second body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner flange extending from said second body portion, lock means for locking said first and second Ibody portions in opeartive relationship with respect to one another, actuating means, said lock means being supported between the inner ange of said second body portion and said actuating means and radially movable relative thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof, said actuating means including cam portions engaging said lock means for moving the lock means outwardly to engage said lip portion in locking position and inwardly out of engagement with said lip portion to release position upon relative rotation of said actuating means with respect to said second body portion, a plurality of separate lock members, said inner flange of the second body portion having holes formed therethrough for receiving said lock members and permitting said lock members to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said last-mentioned inner iiange, each of said lock members including a pair of integral upstanding spaced lugs, said cam portions on the actuating means being received between the lugs of each of said lock members.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said lock members also includes an outer end portion defining a tapered surface for engagement with said annular lip portion.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the inner flange of said second body portion defines an inner annular shoulder for supporting a portion of each of said lock members.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the inner flange 4of said second body portion also includes a sloping surface disposed adjacent said inner annular shoulder.

10. A tape reel container comprising a first body portion including a side wall having an outer fiange extending therefrom, an inner iiange extending from said side wall and defining an annular lip portion, a second body portion including a side wall having an outer ange extending therefrom, an inner flange extending from said second body portion, lock means for locking said first and second body portions in operative relationship with respect to one another, actuating means, said lock means being supported between the inner flange of said second body portion and said actuating means and radially movable relative thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof, said actuating means including cam portions engaging said lock means for moving the lock means outwardly to engage said lip portion in locking position and inwardly out of engagement with said lip portion to release position upon relative rotation of said actuating means with respect to said second body portion, stop means on the inner flange of said second body portion interengageable with portions of said actuating means for limiting movement of said actuating means in opposite directions with respect to the inner iiange of said second body portion, said stop means on the inner fiange of said second body portion including a generally radially extending stop lug, said interengageable portion of the actuating means comprising a pair of generally radially extending stop surfaces engageable with said stop lug.

11. A tape reel container comprising a first body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner fiange extending from said side wall and defining an annular lip portion, a second body portion including a side wall having an outer flange extending therefrom, an inner flange extending from said second body portion, lock means for locking said first and second body portions in operative relationship with respect to one another, actuating means, said lock means being supported between the inner flange of said second body portion and said actuating means and radially movable relative thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof, said actuating means including cam portions engaging said lock means for moving the lock means outwardly to engage said lip portion in locking position and inwardly out of engagement with said lip portion to release position upon relative rotation of said actuating Ameans with respect to said second body portion, said cam portions includes a plurality of spaced integral cam portions each of which has a radially outwardly facing cam surface which slopes so as to define points therealong of increasing radius from the central portion of said actuating means.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said radially outwardly facing cam surfaces has a radially outwardly extending projection formed thereon for engagement with a portion of the associated lock members.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said cam portions also includes a surface facing toward the associated lock members which slopes away from said actuating means, each of said cam surfaces including a lock surface adjacent said last-mentioned sloping surface thereof to hold the associated lock members in operative locked position.

14. Apparatus as dened in claim 12 wherein each of said lock members includes a pair of integral upstanding spaced lugs, said cam portions being received between the lugs of each of said lock members, one of said lugs having a tapered inner surface defining a medial portion which cooperates wih the radially outwardly extending projection of the associated cam surface whereby the actuating means is retained in locked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Colfee 220-55 Baumier 220-55 Geier 206-52 Mathus 206-52 U.S. Cl. X.R. 

